Mission

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The mission of Operation Second Chance is to provide support for the Soldiers and Marines while they are here at WRNMMC and then to further assist them when they transition either back to duty or back to civilian life. We aid in the recovery and rehabilitation of wounded service men and women, assist in the modification of housing to accommodate disabled veterans, assist families of wounded service men and women, and facilitate the transition of wounded service men and women back into civilian society.

Mission

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The mission of Operation Second Chance is to provide support for the Soldiers and Marines while they are here at WRNMMC and then to further assist them when they transition either back to duty or back to civilian life. We aid in the recovery and rehabilitation of wounded service men and women, assist in the modification of housing to accommodate disabled veterans, assist families of wounded service men and women, and facilitate the transition of wounded service men and women back into civilian society.

Results Information

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Results Information

Charting Impact

What is your organization aiming to accomplish?

We are patriotic citizens committed to serving our wounded, injured and ill combat veterans. We support Veterans and their families while they recover in military hospitals, by building relationships and identifying and supporting immediate needs and interests. We are dedicated to promoting public awareness of the many sacrifices made by our Armed Forces. Operation Second Chance serves soldiers and marines receiving or recently completing long-term rehabilitative care at one of the larger national military hospitals, such as Walter Reed National Medical Military Center in Bethesda, MD. Our programs are designed for the benefit of the entire family. We contribute to lasting, meaningful change by providing a spectrum of support for our families that addresses immediate needs and prepares them for their future. 1) Our financial assistance helps them with their current household crisis. 2) Our retreats help to heal our soldiers’ inner wounds and realign their lives to new horizons. 3) Our local activities reconnect service members with their families and build community with other families in similar situations. 4) Our mentoring and internship programs prepare injured service members for the challenges they will continue to face in the years to come.

What are your strategies for making this happen?

Our strategic program portfolio includes a spectrum of activities designed to provide holistic solutions for wounded service members in crisis and their families:• The Essential Daily Assistance and Airfare Program—direct financial assistance and travel funding for special situations• No Person Left Behind—fully accessible sport outings for disabled combat veterans• Operation Giving Back—internships for soldiers and their spouses re-entering the workforce or retraining for new careers• Retreats and Day Trips—opportunities for families to re-bond after deployment • Hospital Visitations—for staff and volunteers to meet with wounded, ill or injured service members and provide them with encouragement and support Through a combination of these services, each family is provided with an immediate and supportive community, guidance through the changes they are experiencing, and a plan for the future.

What are your organization's capabilities for doing this?

Operation Second Chance serves soldiers from all over the U. S. and has established regional operations in a dozen communities. OSC has an annual budget of just under $900,000 and a staff of 3 full-time employees. OSC draws on the expertise and resources of over 90 committed volunteers and receives over $200,000 of in-kind services annually. Our volunteers serve as mentors, retreat organizers, outing escorts, hospital visitors, legal advocates, administrative assistants, fundraisers and others. We collaborate with dozens of community partners to serve our families. Every year we continue to add to our growing roster of caring individuals, corporations, service clubs, churches, social agencies and others who lend service to our programs and provide financial or other program support.

How will your organization know if you are making progress?

Operation Second Chance tracks the participation of our families on a large scale as well as a very personal one. We aggregate our program data to determine how many individuals and families receive services each year (approximately 400-500), and the dollar value of those services. However, Operation Second Chance is not focused merely on “keeping up our numbers. ” It is vitally important to us that the soldiers and their families who go on our retreats or outings, who receive assistance or who speak with our hospital visitors are touched in a positive and life-changing way. We are there to make a significant impact in the lives of each and every one of our soldiers and their families. We solicit feedback at every activity and draw upon our families’ experiences to refine our programs.

What have and haven't you accomplished so far?

Operation Second Chance recently completed a strategic planning session to set us on our path to success in the next five years. We are excited about the growth potential of OSC, yet we have made a strategic decision to maintain the in-depth and personal quality of our services. We have recently expanded our retreat program to include 6 locations, and we have begun replicating our hospital visitation program, first implemented at Walter Reed, at other larger military hospitals in Texas, Tampa and are currently working to establish a relationship in California. Our national board has stepped up to formalize and refine our internal financial processes and program quality controls to facilitate our growth, and each year our fundraising exceeds the year before. We have expanded our staff to reflect our growth and expected increase in demand for near-term and long-term services. Our commitment to our nation’s wounded veterans will continue after the war’s end. We are preparing now to extend our outreach to soldiers and their families over the long-term and adapt our services to the changing needs of our communities. We will never forget our nation’s military heroes.

GuideStar's Gold Seal of Transparency is earned by completing five questions around an
organization's strategies, progress, and results, known as Charting Impact.
Charting Impact encourages strategic thinking about how an organization intends to achieve its goals.
The end result is a report that lets nonprofits share concise, detailed information about plans
and progress with key stakeholders, including the public.
This data is provided directly by nonprofits to GuideStar via their Nonprofit Profile.

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This results data is current as of November 2017, when it was provided to us by GuideStar.
Results information published on this organization's rating page has no effect on its rating at this time.
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Financial Charts

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Programs (FYE 12/2016)

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Program names and associated costs are listed for the top programs as reported on the charity's most recently filed Form 990. The top programs displayed will include the largest three programs, or those programs covering at least 60% of the charity's total expenses, whichever comes first.

Program Name

Amount Spent

% of Program Expenses

Morale Improvement

$350,719

36.1%

Individual Assistance

$620,023

63.9%

Ratings History

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Ratings HistoryOperation Second Chance has received 2 consecutive 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator.

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